How to live with a service dog

Still the weekend?

One of the worst things about not having a job is not keeping up with time very well. When you have a job, you value your “weekend” or days off, on Friday you know that tomorrow is Saturday, on Sunday, you know you go back to work the next day. It shapes your week.

Once I stopped working, stopped going to school, the days just started blurring. I tend to waste my days due to this, so when I woke up this morning, thinking it was Monday and finding it was Sunday, I decided I need a way to shape my time. Apparently, the only thing on my schedule with any regularity is trash night. That just isn’t really helping much. I’m going to have to set up some kind of daily schedule that marks the days of the week.

I work with Trotz 2 or 3 times a day, everyday. We have decided to go back to the basics because, you know, Florida. Every trip to Florida generally means retraining, lol. So morning sessions are loose leash walk and sit at the heel position. Afternoon sessions are focus on Mom. Evening sessions are a rehash of everything we’ve learned to date. I need to add in some play time that is a little more focused, perhaps build some obstacles for him to play on. But this doesn’t shape our week either.

So I decided to sketch out a “job” schedule. I could use some suggestions. It has to blend time working out here, time working with Trotz in public, time just being in public areas that don’t cost much.

Sundays are going to be my clean up and gather tools for the week day. It will be our go nowhere day. Whatever mess we make during the week can be tidied up, bedding washed, tools exchanged, work areas cleared.

Monday is definitely going to have to be work in the kitchen. Not cook or anything insane like that, but that kitchen needs to be wired and plumbed for the winter. Whatever time left over can go to the garden.

Tuesday should be our go into the world day. Perhaps that’s the day we should shop and get supplies.

While musing this, out loud so Trotz can have some input, I’m already boring myself. I look over to ask Trotz what he thinks about all this to find him lazily licking a toe. Apparently, I’m boring him also.

I put down my list and roll my chair over to the edge of the bed. He looks up from his toe, stands, stretches, then hops up on the bed. He puts his big ole head in my lap, clearly indicating that life is more interesting if I scratch his face. I start scratching his face and he rolls to his side to ensure I can get to the best places. His lips roll back, exposing his fangs. I reach over and just hold his fang, still scratching with the other hand. I stop scratching after awhile, just hold his fang, wondering how long he will tolerate this. About 5 minutes. Then we are bored again.

Trotz stands again, hops off the bed, heads for the kitchen. I hear him rustling around, he comes back with a box of pasta. Obviously, life is less boring if I also cook spaghetti for him. Good to know he has the answers to life’s most difficult questions.